How to pronounce western
Say it like WES-tern. Western has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WES).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce western. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- WES
- tern
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Western pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- WESSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- ternKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of western
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: WES-tun.
What does western mean?
- relating to or characteristic of the western parts of the world or the West as opposed to the eastern or oriental parts“the western world”“western thought”
- of or characteristic of regions of the United States west of the Mississippi River“a Western ranch”
- lying toward or situated in the west“our company's western office”
- a film about life in the western United States during the period of exploration and development
- a sandwich made from a western omelet
Where does western come from?
By surface analysis, west + -ern.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying western
How do you pronounce western?
Say WES-tern. The American pronunciation is /ˈwɛstɚn/. In British English it is /ˈwɛstən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in western?
Western has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WES). Broken into parts: WES · tern.
Is western pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈwɛstən/ (WES-tun).